Classic Poem

I die; but when the grave shall press
The heart so long endeared to thee,
When earthly cares no more distress
And earthly joys are nought to me,

Weep not, but think that I have past
Before thee o'er a sea of gloom,Pages 60-61 missing
And there the hearts together nourished
Their first, their fatal parting made.

The afternoon, in softened glory,
Bathed each green swell and waving tree;
Beyond the broad park, spread before me,*
Stretched far away the boundless sea.*

And there I stood, when he had left me,
With ashy cheek but tearless eye,*
Watching the ship whose sail bereft me
Of life and hope and peace and joy.*

It past; that night I sought a pillow
Of sleepless woe, and grieving lone
My soul still hovered o'er the billow,*
And mourned a love for ever flown.

Yet, smiling bright in recollection,
One blissful hour returns to me:
One letter told of firm affection,*
Of safe deliverance from the sea;

But not another. Fearing, hoping,
Spring, winter, harvest, glided o'er;
And time at length brought power for coping
With thoughts I could not once endure.

And I would seek in summer's evening
The place that saw our last farewell;
And there, a chain of visions weaving,
I'd linger till the curfew bell.
Manuscript D9 is a single leaf, with the first 12 verses of No. 42 on one side, and on the reverse the remaining 6 verses, followed by the 5 verses of No. 60.